Flickerfest, Bondi Pavillion Launch

Major announcements during the launch of Australia’s leading Academy® accredited and BAFTA recognised short film festival, Flickerfest will see a lineup in 2019 bigger and brighter than ever uncovering a plethora of untold Australian and International stories.

100 films will be featured over the 10 day festival at Bondi Pavilion before a selection of 22 highlight films including works from SAE FlickerUp youth competition, The Best of European Union shorts and ‘Rainbow Shorts’ featuring LGBTIQ films are taken on tour nationally across 50 venues.

Baz Luhrmann, Director and Flickerfest Patron shared his early beginnings as a filmmaker:

“It was more than 20 years ago that a few actor friends and myself began our first Theatre Company in what was then the upstairs theatre at the Bondi Pavilion. From there, supported by people in the industry, we were able to get our start, so it’s a great thing that just outside the forecourt, Flickerfest now gives a similar opportunity for short filmmakers to have a stage upon which they can present their short films in our local neighbourhood,”

Festival Director, Bronwyn Kidd announced the Academy® qualifying short film contenders this year would be constituted of 6 Australian competitive programmes in addition to the 5 international and 2 documentary ones. Flickerfest films will also be available as part of Virgin Australia’s in-flight entertainment selection. Together with Screen Australia, Canon, partners on and off screen, Bronwyn Kidd gave us deep insight into the synergies fostering platforms enabling Australian filmmakers to thrive.

“The Short Film is a place to experiment and push boundaries. Flickerfest allows emerging voices to be seen and heard and established voices the chance to revitalise. It’s fitting that such a cutting-edge, internationally recognised film festival takes place in an unconventional and vibrant setting: under the stars, on the beach, in Australia.”

The full program to be announced soon, guests were given a taste of the calibre of work with the screening of Grace Otto’s eleven-minute short film, Desert Dash. The winner of Soho House North American script incubator program, it’s recently returned after being featured in the Toronto International Film Festival. An abstract film that leaves the story to subjective interpretation, it was a great example in Flickerfest’s commitment to unearth and promote Australian stories.

Now in its 28th year, Flickerfest will run from Friday 11 January to Sunday 20 January 2019.